Yesterday morning when I woke up, my mind was filled with a dream—being chased by a giant bee. Not a cute little bee, but one of those massive ones that buzzes like a helicopter, its wings flapping as it chased me all over the place. Honestly, it seemed pretty funny right after waking up, but all morning I kept thinking, “What exactly is this dream trying to tell me?”
I usually use tarot cards to help me sort out my thoughts, but interpreting dreams? I’d never tried that before. So I decided to be a “lab rat” and use my own dream as a test subject. I tried three different tarot spreads to see which one worked best. The process was a bit messy, but the results were surprisingly good.
First Attempt: Drawing One Card, Overthinking It
At first, I thought it would be simple: “It’s just interpreting a dream, right? Just draw one card and see!“ So I drew one at random—and got ”The Tower.“
This card signifies ”sudden collapse“ or ”unexpected blow.“ I stared at it blankly: ”So… my bee dream means ‘my life is about to fall apart’?” That interpretation was terrifying! And it didn’t make any sense. It’s like judging an entire movie based on a single poster—you’re bound to get it wrong.
Conclusion: Single cards are too vague for dream interpretation. Pass!
Discovering Three Common Spreads
Munching on leftover cold pizza from the fridge, I searched online for “tarot dream interpretation spreads” and found three most common methods:
- “Dream Layers Spread” — Break the dream into sections, with one card per question.
- “Mirror Image Spread” — Draw one card for each element appearing in the dream.
- “Clear Cross Spread” (which I privately dubbed “What the Heck is This Spread?”) — Draw just three cards to focus on key points.
I decided to test all three methods using the same “bee dream” to see which one proved most reliable.
Test One: “Dream Layers Spread” — Detailed, but a bit exhausting
This spread requires laying out five cards, each representing a question:
- This card represents: What scared you most in the dream?
- This card represents: What was the strangest symbol in the dream?
- This card represents: Your true inner fear?
- This card represents: What is your subconscious trying to tell you?
- This card represents: What should you do?
The cards I drew are:
- Nine of Swords → Anxiety, insomnia, high stress
- Chariot → Control, rushing against time, having goals but feeling exhausted
- Five of Pentacles → Financial or practical pressures
- Queen of Cups → Focus on emotions, take care of yourself
- Page of Wands → Start taking action, write it down, keep records
Interpretation:
So that bee symbolized a “deadline” chasing me! Chariot + Nine of Swords shows my work stress has skyrocketed lately, leaving me sleepless at night with thoughts of “I won’t make it in time” swirling in my head. The Queen of Cups reminds me: “Don’t just focus on work—your emotions need attention too.” The Page of Wands says: “Stop overthinking—start writing in your journal. Put your anxiety down on paper.”
Pros: Highly detailed analysis, like a psychologist peeling back layers for you.
Cons: Time-consuming! Each card requires deep contemplation. Best for leisurely weekend sessions, not for rushed mornings before work.
Test Two: “Mirror Spread” — For Those with Good Memory
This method requires you to recall several key dream images, such as:
- Bees
- Forest
- Me running
- Pink sky
Then draw one card for each image:
- Bees → Three of Wands (Collaboration, planning, but low efficiency)
- Forest → The Hermit (solitude, need for alone time, self-reflection)
- Running → The Eight of Swords (feeling trapped, anxious, stuck)
- Pink sky → The Star (hope, inspiration, things will improve)
Interpretation:
Bee = Three of Wands? Probably means “You’ve been running around like crazy lately, but not very efficiently.” Forest = Hermit: True, I’ve barely contacted friends lately, just buried in work alone. Running = Eight of Swords: Classic “the busier I get, the more chaotic it becomes; the more chaotic, the more panicked.” Pink sky = Star: Shows that despite current chaos, hope lies ahead.
Pros: Highly visual, like piecing together a puzzle linking dream imagery with card meanings.
Cons: You must remember dream details! I often wake up thinking “Was it water… or fire?”—then it’s useless.
Test Three: “Clear Cross Spread”—Simple Yet Powerful, Astonishingly Effective
This spread requires only three cards:
- What was the core of the dream? (Essence)
- What triggered this dream? (Trigger)
- What should you learn? (Lesson)
My draw:
- Wheel of Fortune → Sudden change, uncontrollable events
- Seven of Cups → Many choices, fantasies, indecision
- Temperance → Balance, adjustment, don’t be too greedy
Interpretation:
Wheel of Fortune = Giant bee suddenly appearing = Life’s been changing too much lately, and I’m feeling overwhelmed.
Seven of Cups = Yesterday I was still agonizing over “Should I change jobs? Learn new skills? Move?” My mind’s full of options.
Temperance = Reminding me: “Stop overthinking. Pick one direction and take it slow.”
The entire process took less than three minutes, and the clarity of the answers stunned me—this is exactly my current state!
Pros: Fast, accurate, and decisive. Ideal for quick readings upon waking, during your commute, or at lunch break.
Cons: Not as detailed, but sufficient for most people!
Summary: How to choose among the three spreads?
| Spread Name | Who It’s For | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dream Layers Spread | Those with time who want deep self-analysis | Comprehensive analysis, like therapy | Time-consuming, prone to overthinking |
| Mirror Image Spread | Those with good memory and vivid dream imagery | Vivid imagery, creative | Doesn’t work if you can’t recall the dream |
| Clear Cross Spread | Busy individuals, beginners, or those seeking quick dream interpretation | Fast, direct, high accuracy | Less detailed but highly practical |
My New Favorite: Clear Cross Spread
Ever since that bee dream, I’ve been hooked on the “Clear Cross.” Last night I had another bizarre dream—a flying toilet (don’t ask). I used this spread again and drew:
- Three of Cups → Stop pulling all-nighters with friends
- Ace of Swords → Make a decision about work—stop procrastinating
- Knight of Pentacles → Stay grounded and see it through
…Spot on! I’ve been partying late way too often lately, dragging my work projects without direction, and always hoping for instant success.
Tips for Beginners
- Don’t chase “perfect accuracy”—Tarot helps clarify your thoughts, not predict the future.
- Start with the simplest spread—I recommend the “Clear Cross,” which gives you direction with just three cards.
- Recording is crucial—even if it’s just one sentence: “Today I dreamed of XX, drew XX card, and felt it was reminding me of XXX.”
- Don’t fear “misinterpretation”—your intuition matters more than book interpretations. What the cards make you think of is often the answer.
Dream interpretation isn’t mysticism; it’s a way to converse with yourself. Tarot acts like a mirror, reflecting what you already know deep down but haven’t voiced. Keep it simple—choose an easy method, spend three minutes daily, and you’ll understand yourself better.
Give it a try. Who knows? That dream last night about “aliens inviting you for tea” might hide a reminder you desperately need to hear 😊
